Common Causes of Compressed Air Leaks

About 30% of air is lost to leakage in compressed air systems. Not only does this reduce productivity but it results in a hefty electricity bill for your company. Unfortunately, you can’t hear air leakages as they occur amidst noisy backgrounds.

Before you can think of ways to stop these leaks, it’s important that you understand the causes. Generally, the size of the plant and amount of compressed air the system uses are the main factors that cause these leakages.

We’ll discuss the specific causes in detail below.

Condition of the Equipment

The condition of the air compressed air system significantly contributes to the probability of leaks occurring. Many plants are over 30 years old and usually the equipment isn’t in the best of conditions. Wear and tear affects performance & creates points that air can escape from. The following equipment conditions are prone to air leakage:

• - Loose tubing connections

• - Piping connections

• - Air traps

• - Leaky regulators

• - Holes in corroded pipes and valve packings

• - Open lines in valves since they’re partially opened by nature

Faulty Mechanisms

Malfunctions in the operational mechanism of an air compressed system can cause leakage. An example of such a fault is when an air trap becomes clogged with debris causing it to stop working.

Incorrect Operation of System

The air compressed system may be in perfect working order but incorrect operation can cause leakages.

For the system to function, an operator must open the valve to bypass the air trap. This is meant to allow air to blow directly until the air trap is cleaned. But unfortunately it’s not unusual for an operator to forget to close the valve and this causes air to leak.

Let Us Help You

Air from compressed systems is extremely important as it’s designed to sustain many projects; from powering pneumatic tools to cleaning. This is why it’s important that your systems are always functioning smoothly. CDA Systems can help you identify and repair leaks. Give us a call on 925.667.3400/sales@cdasystems.com to book a site visit or request a quote.